“[A] charmer of a first novel. . . . This Elizabeth is delightful, slyly funny company. You’ll never look at the real one the same way again.” — People (3 ½ stars) “A witty, contemporary story of the Downton Abbey-esque tensions between servants and employers, the young and the old, and tradition and modernity.” — Glamour A lively, wonderfully inventive, delightful romp reminiscent of Alan … wonderfully inventive, delightful romp reminiscent of Alan Bennett’s The Uncommon Reader, Mrs Queen Takes the Train takes readers into the mind of the grand matriarch of Britain’s Royal Family, bringing us an endearing runaway Queen Elizabeth on the town, and leading us behind the Buckingham Palace walls into the upstairs/downstairs spaces of England’s monarchy.
After decades of service and years of watching her family’s troubles splashed across the tabloids, Britain’s Queen is beginning to feel her age. She needs some proper cheering up and an unexpected opportunity offers her relief: an impromptu visit to a place that holds happy memories—the former royal yacht, Britannia, now moored near Edinburgh. Hidden beneath a skull-emblazoned hoodie, the limber Elizabeth (thank goodness for yoga) walks out of Buckingham Palace into the freedom of a rainy London day and heads for King’s Cross to catch a train to Scotland, leaving behind a desperate team of courtiers who must find the missing Windsor before a national scandal erupts.
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Mr. Kuhn is primarily a biographer, and that background serves him well for this first novel. He places Her Majesty in a fictional world based solidly on the real one.
The whole adventure begins when the Queen leaves the palace without telling anyone, disguised by a borrowed coat with a hood. She plans on going to Scotland where her …
I SO enjoyed this book about The Queen escaping for a day from her Royal duties to travel by train to Scotland to visit her former yacht, Britannia. And about the various loyal household members who set off to find her. It’s more of a warm meander through this other world than a fast-paced thriller. I would have been happy to meander even …
This book wasn’t what I was expecting, but it was an OK read. I’d buy it again.
Fun to imagine this trip taking place. Could it have? You tell me. I had my Alexa Amazon Echo read this to me while my hands were busy on a project.
If you’re a Royal-watcher, an Anglophile, or just like a good ‘what-if’ novel, check this one out!
This was a fun book.
Great Read – I loved it
A bit of a stretch realistically, but then that is the entire reason for the story. Heartwarming characters Whimsical and entertaining
It’s a cute, light read. Some nice back stories.
A good evenings read especially considering all that is going on today in the Royal Family. Who wouldn’t want to be unrecognized for a few days and just go on a wander ?
In many ways royalty have very restricted lives. It was an interesting behind the scenes look.
Enjoyed it thoroughly.